Abstract: Objective To identify the blood meal source in Culicoides using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and to study the diversity of blood-sucking habit. Methods Blood-engorged Culicoides were collected by light-traps in habitats related to human activities at a village in suburban Nanchang, China, August 2017. Species-specific primers were designed based on differences between mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences of common Culicoides hosts to set up a PCR system. The blood meal source in Culicoides was identified with positive and negative controls of animal blood source. Results Culicoides arakawae and C. oxystoma were the predominant species in the peasant household habitat, accounting for 37.01% and 33.85%, respectively. Culicoides arakawae (81.40%) was the dominating specie in chicken coops and C. oxystoma (57.66%) was the predominant specie in pigsties. Results of PCR for blood meal source in Culicoides showed that specific PCR products were amplified from the DNA extracted from Culicoides and known animal blood samples. Moreover, C. arakawae, C. oxystoma, C. punctatus, and C. homotomus could suck both human and animal blood, and they had the habit of simultaneously sucking blood from 2-4 host animals. The blood sucking index for human blood of C. arakawae, C. oxystoma, C. punctatus, and C. homotomus was 0.13, 0.63, 0.33, and 1.00, respectively. Conclusion The PCR method has advantages in sensitivity and reliability in identifying the Culicoides blood meal source. The four Culicoides are all capable of feeding on human and animal blood, with wild blood-sucking objects and diverse habit.

Key words: Culicoides, Culicoides blood meal, Blood-sucking diversity, Polymerase chain reaction, Blood meal identification, Different habitats

摘要： 目的 运用PCR技术检测吸血库蠓胃血来源，研究其吸血习性的多样性。方法 2017年8月，在南昌市郊区一村庄运用诱蚊灯法在与人类活动关系密切的生境调查吸血库蠓的组成，捕捉饱血库蠓，根据调查吸血库蠓可能的吸血对象的线粒体DNA细胞色素b序列的差异，设计特异性引物，建立PCR反应体系，设立动物血源的阳性对照和阴性对照鉴定蠓胃血来源。结果 农户中以荒川库蠓和尖喙库蠓为主，分别占37.01%和33.85%；鸡圈主要以荒川库蠓为主，占81.40%；猪圈以尖喙库蠓为主，占57.66%。PCR检测库蠓胃血血源结果显示，该方法可以从已知动物血样和吸血库蠓提取的DNA中分别扩增到宿主动物的特异性条带。荒川库蠓、尖喙库蠓、刺鳌库蠓和原野库蠓均吸食人血或动物血，且4种库蠓同时具有兼吸2～4种动物血液的习性。4种不同吸血库蠓吸食人血指数荒川库蠓为0.13，尖喙库蠓为0.63，刺鳌库蠓为0.33，原野库蠓为1.00。结论 建立的PCR检测方法可鉴定吸血库蠓蠓胃血来源，结果灵敏、稳定可靠；4种吸血库蠓均兼吸人、畜血液，吸血对象广泛，吸血习性多样。

关键词: 库蠓, 蠓胃血, 吸血多样性, 聚合酶链式反应, 血源鉴定, 不同生境